00:00Public Relations Officer of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers, Jared Jagrew, says the proposed legislation reflects the need for a
00:08different approach to crime, pointing to data suggesting that limiting movement can contribute to a reduction in criminal activity.
00:16He says while there are legitimate concerns about the rights of residents in the seven districts, the wider issue of
00:23public safety must also be considered.
00:26One must also consider the rights of the majority of citizens whose lives have been affected by crime.
00:36So the constitution, one of the first guarantees that you have is the right to life, liberty and security of
00:42the person.
00:43So when you look at the, why is nobody asking about the over 620 persons who were murdered in 2024?
00:52What about their rights and the protection of their life and liberty and security of the person?
00:58Jagrew tells the TV6 morning edition, citizen safety must remain the priority, arguing that traditional crime fighting strategies have not
01:08delivered the results needed.
01:10He believes the new legislation could provide a more effective framework for tackling serious crime.
01:16You can't keep doing the same thing over and over and blame the commissioner police and fire commissioner police, hire
01:22commissioner police, run and submit lists to the president's house.
01:27That can't work. That's not working.
01:29So this is what this legislation attempts to do.
01:32It attempts to design a new system to increase policing in areas that need it.
01:37And while Jagrew says the state of emergency was successful in disrupting criminal activity, he argues that modern crime requires
01:47modern tools.
01:48He says the special operations bill is designed to build on that experience while introducing safeguards around how operations are
01:58conducted.
01:59Police and defense force firstly have to be trained in human rights and use of force as well as community
02:06engagement.
02:07They're also, so you are not just putting boots on the ground with guns in their hands to go, you
02:15know, act recklessly.
02:16They have to be trained to deal with this new type of situation that the government is trying to implement.
02:24The proposed framework would shift special operations to a police-led model, with defense force assistance available when requested by
02:33the top cop.
02:33The legislation includes a two-year sunset clause, while the president would have responsibility for declaring a specific area closed,
02:42when there are reasonable grounds that public safety is threatened by serious criminal activity.
02:48Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
Comments